Birmingham NewsOfficials in several cities on U.S. 280 are asking the Alabama Department of Transportation to keep working on solutions to the highway's traffic problems, even if they're not endorsing the department's specific plan.

The Mountain Brook City Council tonight approved a resolution encouraging the Alabama Department of Transportation to continue collaborating with surrounding cities in redesigning U.S. 280.

The resolution says "the serious issue of traffic congestion" merits improving the roadway. It also encourages ALDOT to collaborate with area businesses and the Greater Birmingham Regional Planning Commission.

City officials said they hope to "keep momentum going" toward highway improvements, though the current 280 plan needs some changes.

In April, the Birmingham City Council passed a resolution expressing concerns about the ALDOT proposal for 280, but stopping short of outright opposition. The Hoover City Council also passed a resolution supporting some work to alleviate traffic concerns on the highway, but stopping short of endorsing ALDOT's plan.

ALDOT's proposal would build five miles of elevated highway from Eagle Point Parkway in Shelby County to Interstate 459, and then a series of interchanges to allow express lanes to continue on the Elton B. Stephens Expressway